Mebchandise-ticket-atiditing device



June 25, 1929. M. KLEIN MERCHANDISE TICKET AUDITING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 5 1925 Julie 25; 1929;

r M. KLEIN 1.718.212

MERCHANDISE TECKET AUDITING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet -2 June 25, 1929. M, m I 1.718.212

MERCHANDISE TICKET AUDITING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -IHH I June 25, 1929. K N 1.718.212

MERCHANDISE TICKET AUDITING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1925 '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1925 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 jiu'Jen/EO Mafi'llww mam Patented June 25, 1929.

U NITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW KLEIN, or BILLINGS, MONTANA, AssIenon or ONE-HALF To HART-ALBIN 00., or BILLINGS, Montana.

MERCHANDISE-TICKET-AUDITING DEVICE.

Application filed January 5, 1925. Serial No. 650.

It is frequently desirable in stores where merchandise is sold or in shops where articles are transferred from one personor department to another to provide a simple means of keeping an accurate record of such articles. \Vhere sales are made, it is also desirable that such record shall show the price for which the articles were sold and in some instances other information.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine for making such a record by employing the usual pin ticket or similar tag usuall y attached to articles in stores or stock rooms.

The invention provides a casing containing a roll of paper tape which is fed step by step by any old or desired means. A portion of the ticket is inserted in the machine, and mechanism operated either manually or by power to staple or stitch the ticket to the paper tape and then sever the ticket into two parts, one of which is fastened to the tape and the other of which remains attached to the article. The

' same operation also severs the end portion of the tape containing the attached ticket, and the same drops into a receptacle from which all of the tickets may be taken at theexpira tion of any desired interval of time.

An important object of my invention resides in the provision'of a mechanism, by the aid ofwhich the auditing of sales is facilitated; and also for the purpose of insuring accuracy of the records obtained for the sales of merchandise. Thus when a person making the sales desires to have the machine record data regarding the sales, the original record appearing on the ticket fastened to the merchandise can be directly utilized as a part of the record obtained. For this purpose such tickets can be operated on forthe ob-' taining of such records, as, for example, by any well known recording means; but in the present instance} show a form in which a portion of the ticket is actually severed by the machine and is attached to a backing or support that can be deposited with the completed record in a convenient receptacle. The records are preferably also sorted in accordmakin the sales is permitted access to the cash drawers operated as a part of an addin machine and register. It is obvious that suc prior devices provide no check whatever upon the person making the sales who may operate the cash drawers at will.

My apparatus provides a positive check upon the sales by insuring that no cash compartment can be opened for depositing the money obtained from the sale, or for making change, until the mechanism is actuated for the purpose of obtaining a record.

It is accordingly an important object of my invention to prevent unauthorized use of the cash drawers.

The tickets may be of various sizes andshapes, but the severed pieces of tape will be of uniform size, thus facilitating the handling thereof. In some cases it may be unnecessary to cut the tape, and will be sufiicient to roll up the same, but in the preferred embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the tape is cut at each operation of the device.

The machine may be constucted and used by itself, or it may be combined with a cash register or an adding machine. When used with a cash register, the same operation which controls the register may. operate the mer ehandise register. When used with an adding machine, the operative stroke of the handle thereoflwhether it be driven manually or by power, will also operate the machine herein disclosed.

The pin ticket may have any desired information thereon, and theclerk who makes the sale can write any desired identifying data on the portion to be severed, or if desired, a stamp may operate simultaneously with the stitching device to print or otherwise impress such .data on the tape or severed portion of the ticket.

My invention also includes specific forms of pin tickets which may be varied according to the character of the goods to which they are attached. Moreover, it is not absolutely necessary that these special tickets be em ployed, as the device can be used with other forms.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with parts indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4i is a front view with a portion of the casingremoved and parts in section.

Figure 5 1s a section on the line 5-5 of the upper portion of the device as shown in Figure 4.- with the parts in the position which they occupy near the completion of the stroke of the operating handle.

Figure 6 is a front view corresponding to Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detached side elevation of the operating handle.

Figure 8 is a side and end view of a portion of the drive roller of the tape and the operating means therefor.

Figure 9'is atop plan view of the lower part of the casing.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the same with parts in section and the paper roll in dotted lines.

Figure 11 is an elevation of one of the guards.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are plan views of three different forms of pin tickets.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of parts of the device showing how the operating handle may be driven by power.

"Figure 16 is a side elevation showing means ga -for releasing a cash drawer by the stroke of the operating handle.

Fi ure 17 is a plan view of a portion of the cash rawer-and the means for operatin the same by the movement of the operating ian- The machine comprises a main frame work 1, best illustrated in Figures 9- and 10 which is enclosed by sides 2 and a front 3. A cover 4 fits upon the top of the main frame and is fastened thereto in any desired manner. The

sides and cover are preferably of metal, and the front 3 has a door portion 5 which is locked and can be opened for positioning new rolls of paper and examination of the mechanism in general. The left side also has a removable portion held locked which is for the purpose of gaining access to the compartments into which the severed tickets fall. The exact form and contour of these parts and the materials of which they are made may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The front of the stop cover has-an opening 6 through which the pin tickets are inserted into position over the paper tape. At the front left hand corner (Fig. 2) a rod or bar 7 is supported by being stepped into a block 8 at its lower end and into a similar support at its upper end. A shelf 9 which extends across a portion of the front of the device and along a portion of the left side has supporting arms 10 attached to a sleeve 11 mounted to slide on the bar 7. The shelf is held in desired position by means of a detent 11 provided with a finger piece 12 and pressed by a spring 13 into engagement with one of the notches 14: in

the bar 7. I

Adjacent the opening (3 the frame 1 supports a plate member 15 (Figs. 3 and 9) which lies outside the cover et. This has an opening 16 at the left end for the upper end of the bar 7, and it is provided with a dove tail groove 17 (Fig. 10) in which slide similar dove tail projections 18 on the bottom of one or more guard members 19, such as shown in Figure 11. Between the guard members 19 and the opening 6 the member 15 supports pins 20' which cooperate with the. pin tickets as hereinafter explained. The. guards may be adjusted to the proper distance apart. to facilitate the easy and quick. positioning of the tickets, and may be moved to close the opening 6 When the device is not in use and thus prevent accidental Contact with the pins 20.

Just inside the casing to the rear of the .plate 15 is a bar 21 supported by the. frame 1 and provided with a slot or depression 22. This forms the base plate for a stapling or stitching device hereinafter described. Be tween the plate 15 and the bar 21 a slight space is left, and a vertical plate 23 lying under the member 15 and flush with the inner edge thereof forms a stationary knife member for cooperation with a movable knife member hereinafter described.

The frame has a longitudinally extending support 25 (Fig. 9) spaced from the right hand side wall, and a shaft 26 is mounted in bearings 27 carried by the support 25 and bearings 28 of the left hand side of the frame. This shaft is designed to support the movable portion of the stitching device. The support 25 and the left hand wall are also provided with open bearings 29 adapted to receive the spindle of a paper roll 30. The paper A from this roll (Figs. 1 and 3) is fed downward 5 around a guide roll 3]., forward to and around a guide roll 32, up through a guideway formed by the front wall 3 and a plate 31', around'a guide roll 33, between feed rolls 34 and 35, through a curved guide way formed by plates 36 and 37, over the edge of the stationary knife plate 23' and over the base plate 21 of (Fig. 6) extended to the right and provided with apivot pin. 39 to which is attached amovable knife 40. About the pin 39 are coiled springs (Fig. 5) which act to give the knifea40'iits: cutting movement. All of the operatibnssare: controlled by a handle 42 which extends-through a slot 43 (Fig. 2) the frontt3 of the. casing and is provided with a hand piece 44. The operating mechanism controlled by the handle lies in the spacer-between. the support 25 and the right hand side of' the casing. The manner in whi'cl'n the movement of the handle controls the stitch-- ing, cutting and paper feeding operationsinz sequence will now be described.

The handle 42 is connected to a segment: shaped member 45 which is pivoted om a pivot- 46 in a vertical member of the frame. L A; spring 47 is wound about the pivot 46-. andihas, one end hooked around the frame and the;

' 1 other under the segment455 anrhacts to'returm the same to normal positi'orr when the is released.

A stitching or stapling" member 48; of old or desired form issupponted on the sha 26. Arms 49 extend upwardly from the shaft 26 and have forwardly extending links. 49 atthe upper ends which are connected by a transverse shaft 50 (Figs- 3 and 6) which has near its middle an arm 51 connected by a pin 52 to the plunger 53 of the stitcher. At one end the shaft 50 has: an upwardly extending arm 54 connected by a pivot pin 55 to a link 56, the other end of which is pivoted at 57 to the upper portion of the segment member 45. Obviously the downward movement of the handle and segment will pull down on the link 56 moving the whole stitching device downward until the body portion comes into contact with the plate 21 or the paper and ticket thereon, whereupon a further move- .ment of the handle will move the plunger 53 of the stitching device and complete the. op-' eration.

The movable knife 40 is normally held in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and is thus held against the tension of the operating springs 41 by means of a lever 58 having an eye to knife. This lever is pivoted at- 60 to 1: lug 61 carried by a fixed portion of the frame and a spring 62 which bears against the lever and the frame normally holds the lever in the Figure 4 position. The operating handle 42 is provided with a lug 63 which engages the tail 64 of the lever androcks it against the tension of the spring 62 swinging the lever outward and releasing the knife 40 just as the stitching operation has been completed. The springs then operate the knife and sever engage a pin 59 on the the tape with the ticket which has-been attached thereto.

When the handle 42a is releaserh after the stitching andcutting operations: are completed, the spring 47 (Fig. 5)": is strong enough to return thehandle 42 tmthe posi tion of Fig.3 At its upward movement the segment. 45, lly-the aidofia projection or'lug' 65 formed 'tliereon,,pnshes against the bottom of thejslide 66.: This. slide is, guided for; movement along the; side-of the: frame and. has a horizontal projection 67, that engagesa pin 68, on; the knife 40. The knife 40, is thus raised to. the; position of Fig. 4, and is.

retained in that. position by the arm 58,. ene gaging the- 59'). Upon a subsequent depression ofhandle-424, this arm 63zcanzagaiin bereleased: and the.- spring urging the: knife; to closing position: can again snap: it. downs ward to: thepositionof Fig. 6.

The return movement of theoperating handle also; operates the paper fcediforfeediiing; the strip; A forward after the end has: been severed. For this purpose; the segment member 45 is provided with a rack gear: 69:

(Fi 7): which meshes with a gear 7 0. (Figs 7 and 8) loose. on the end of the shaft. 71 of the feed roll 34. A plate 72 loose on. said shaft is to said gear 7 O and carries a pawl 7 3 which engages a ratchet 74 also loose on the shaft. Through the shaft proiects a pin 75, the ends of which are in position to engage: the ends of the studs 76 carried by the ratchet 74. When the handle 42 is given its downward movement, the. gear and plate are given a clockwise movement, looking at the end view of Figure 8, and as the pawl moves away from the ratchet, no motion is imparted to the ratchet or to the shaft. On the return movement of the handle 42, the plate rotates in counter clockwise direction moving the pawl and the ratchet. The ratchet then rotates until the lower stud 76 moves around to engage the upper arm of the pin when the movement is thereafter transmitted to theshaft and the paper is fed forward. This lost motion is necessary to permit the cutting knife to be moved out of engagement with the stationary knife before the paper is fed. The feed roller may be provided with grooves-77 for the use of guides ifdesired.

There are preferably provided two compartments 78 and 79 (Fig. 1) into which the severed tickets may fall. After being out they slide over an incline 80 (Fig. 3) and into one or the other of these compartments according to the setting of a member 81, whi" when in the Figure 3 position forms :1. Cr. tinuation of the incline 80 and delivers the ticket into compartment 7 9. This member 81 can be moved by means of a stem 82 pivoted thereto at 83 and extending forwardly to the outsideof the casing where it is provided with a finger key 84. Another finger key 85 adjacent thereto is provided with a stem 86, which 'is pivoted to a lever' 87 pivoted intermediate its ends at '88 and pivoted.

at 89 to the upper stem 82. When the parts .are in the position shown in Figure 8 and the key 84 is depressed, the member 81 will be rocked rearwardly so that the severed tickets which slide along the incline 80 will drop-into the compartment 78. The two keys 84 and 85 are preferably for charge and cash accounts. It is obvious that a larger number of compartments may be provided if desired.

My invention also provides a specific form of pin tickets which are shown in Figures 12, 13, and 14. In the form shown in Figure 12 the ticket is preferably about twice as large as the usual ticket and is intended to be severed on the dotted line 90. The part of the ticket 91 which remains attached to the merchandise is provided with openings 93 which are adapted to fit over the pins 20. This part of the ticket also has two inclined slots 94 near one end and the part 92 when the ticket is on the article is folded over on the line 90 and inserted into these slots.

In the modification shown in Figure 14 the only change is that-instead of provid ng the slots 94 a single slot 95 is provided near .the end'Of the portion 91 and the portion 92 is provided with a tongue 96 adapted to enter this slot when folded on the line 90.

The form of ticket shown in Figure 13 is adapted for small articles to which the ticket may be attached by a string 97. This ticket is adapted to be folded on the line 98 and one end has a slot 99 adapted to receive the other end when the parts are folded. In-

stead of the openings 93 employed in the other two forms, this ticket has cut cuts 100 at the edges thereof adapted to engage the pins 20. v

I shall now describe the complete operation of the mechanism. The shelf 9, if desired, can first be adjusted so as to serve as a convenient support for merchandise to which price tickets are attached and of which a record is to be taken. If shelf 9 be omitted from the apparatus the merchandise can be held in the hands of the sales person. This person then inserts the free end of the price ticket through the opening 6 of the cas- 'over the block 21.

spring 62.

operates to pull the stitcher mechanism downwards by the aid of the link 56, and the ,free end of the price ticket is stitched to the portion of the paper tape which extends Continued downward movement of handle 42 causes engagement of projection "63 with "the arm 64 and will depress this arm 64, against the pressure of The catch 58 connected to arm 6-1 is thus released from pin 59 on knife 40, and this knife is urged rapidly to its downward position, by spring tension, to sever the ticket and also the paper tape A. Figure 5 shows the knife 40, in its position immediately after the cutting operation. The handle 42, can now be released, and as it is moved upwardly by spring 47 the projection 65 on segment 45 moves the slide 66, vertically upward. At the same time projection 63 releases arm 64, the knife 40 is raised by slide 66, and catch 58 engages pin 59 to hold the knife in the position of Figure 4. The upward movement of segment 45 also rotates the gear (Fig. 8) in such a direction as to cause advancement of tape A so as to push it in proper relation to the knife blade for the next stitching and severing operation. Due to-the lost motion provided by pins and 76 on shaft 71. this advancement of the tape is delayed until the previously severed portion drops into one or the other of the two compartments, 7 8 or 79, and until the knife 40, is lifted clear from the path of the tape A.

Instead of employing an operating handle 42, the segment member 45 may also be operated by power. Figure 15 discloses one means whereby this may be brought about. A link 101 is pivoted to the segment at one end and at its other end to a lever 102 pivoted in the frame at 103. The otherend-of the lever 102 is pivoted at 104 to a short link I 105 which is pivoted at 106 upon a gear wheel 107. The pivot point 106 is adjacent the edge of the wheel so that the gear 107 and the link 105 form a pitman. This gear 107 may be driven in any desired manner as for example by a gear 108 driven b an electric motor 109. In such an embo im'ent of my invention the motor will beset inoperation in any usual or desired manner.

I may also provide means whereby the operation of the device will open a cash drawer either contained in the device itself or in an adjacent cash register. Figures 16 and 17 show means whereby this result may be obtained. The cash drawer 110 is held in position by the usual latch 111 and is normally urged outward to open position by a spring 112. This latch is shown as bein operated by means of a lever 113 connecte at one end to another lever 114, both of which levers aresuitably sup orted upon the frame work and the other end of the lever 114 is operated by a key stem 115. A lug 116 on the quadrant 45 is adapted to engage anddepress' this key stem.at the termination of the move- ,ment of the segment and-"then operate the .be used in connection-with a cash register or adding machine and ma be so-associated "therewith that both-machines will be operated by the o erationrof a single operating handle. This is particularly true in the case of power operated adding machines or cash reglsters where both {devices can bev operated from:the.same sourcepf power .by the opera- ;tion ofasingle key.-

.It iSzObVlOUS that-numerous detail changes maybemade and the embodiment of m in- '-vention' modified in various ways; also "that parts of the device'may be used .alone 01 conjunction with different .forms of the re 'mainder of the mechanism without in any :wayde arting fromthe spirit of the invention, w ich is to be regarded as limited (only by the scope of-theappended claims.

In-some ofizthersald' appended claims, use is made of a termlsuch as record incorporating data truly corresponding to tickets. This term is intendedi'to mean that the record from the ticket -'is .pro.vided with a recipient, such as a backing, cand, or a tape, on which the record is incorporated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A ticket auditing device comprising means for feeding a paper tape, means for fastening a ticket thereto, means for severing the ticket, and means for causing the paper feed means to operate only after the severing operation.

2. A ticket auditing device comprising means for feeding a paper tape, means for fastening a ticket thereto,means for severing the ticket, and a single means which operates the fastening means, severing'means and paper feeding means in sequence.

3. A merchandise ticket auditing device comprising means for feeding a paper tape, means for fastening a ticket thereto, means I for severing the ticket, a single means for 4. A merchadise ticket auditing device comprising means for feeding a paper tape, means for fastening a ticket thereto, means for severing the ticket and tape, a single operating means, and connections between the operating means and the paper feeding means which cause the latter to be operated only at a redetermined time in the return movement 0 the operating means.

5. A ticket auditing device comprising means for feeding a paper tape, means for holding a ticket in proper relation thereto, means for fastening the ticket and tape, and means for severing the position of the ticket thus fastened to the tape from that retained upon the merchandise.

6. A' ticket auditing device comprising means for feeding a paper tape, means for at taching a ticket'th'ereto, and means for controlling said feeding means to operate the same only .after the ticket has been attached to the tape.

7. A ticket auditing device comprlsmg means for feeding a paper tape, means for attaching a ticket thereto, a spring operated knife for severing said ticket, and means :9. A ticket auditing device comprising means for feeding a paper tape, means for attaching ;a ticket thereto, a single means for controlling both operations, a spring operated knifefor severing said ticket, means for holdby the controlling means for releasing the holding means only after the ticket has been attached to the tape, and means controlled by the return movement of the single means forv again engaging the knife with said holding means.

98 which release said knife to operate only after 10. In a ticket auditing device, the combi- I nation with a ticket positioning means, of means for feeding a tape of'indeterminate length past the -positionin means whereby a portion of the ticket an the tape will be disposed one above the other, ofmeans for attaching a ticket to the front end portion of the tape, and means for severing the front end portion of the tape in rear of the attached ticket.

11. In a ticket auditing device, the'combination with a ticket positioning means, of means for feeding a tape of indeterminate len h past the positioning means whereby a portlon of the ticket and the tape will be disposed one ing'the knife from operation, means operated above the 'other, of means for attaching a single means for operating in sequence the ticket attaching means, the tape severing means, and the tape feeding means.

1.2. In a ticket auditing-device, the combination with means for feeding a tape of indeterminate length, of means for attaching one end portion of a tickctto the tape, means for severing the free end portion of said ticket, and a single means for operating in sequence, the ticket attaching means, the tape severing means, and the tape feeding means.

13. Apparatus for obtaining records of the sale of merchandise'equipped with identifying tickets, including means arranged to sever a portion of said ticket while the other portion remains attached to the merchandise, means providing a support afiixed to the severed portion and a mechanism correlating the said two means to cause them to operate in proper sequence on the identifying tickets.

14. The method of obtaining records of merchandise to which tickets are attached, which includes severing at least a portion of each of said tickets, while the other portion is retained on the merchandise, and attaching said severed portions on backings of substantially uniform size.

15. The method of obtaining records of merchandise to which tickets are attached, which includes severing a portion of each of said tickets, fastening said portions on a long strip of backing material, and cutting said strip to form substantially uniform sized records, each carrying a severed ticket portion.

16. In apparatus of the character described, a. mechanism for attaching price tickets of varying sizes to substantially uniform sized supporting backings, inaccessible receptacles for said tickets with their backings, and mechanism whereby said tickets are deposited in said receptacles.

17. In apparatus of the character described, a mechanism arranged to operate on price tickets associated with merchandise, to obtain a record incorporating data truly corresponding to said tickets, said record being of substantially uniform size, an inaccessible receptacle for said records, and mechanism whereby said tickets are deposited in said receptacles.

18. In apparatus of the character described, means for severing a portion of price tickets attached to merchandise, means providing backing in the form of a large piece of mate-. rial that can be readily cut, means for attach ing the severed port-ion of the ticket to said material and for cutting said material into substantially uniform portions, each carrying a severed ticket.

19. The method of obtaining records of merchandise to which tickets are attached, which includes severing at least a portion of each of said tickets, and attaching said portiensonbackingsofsubstantiallyuniform size.

20. Apparatus controllable by an operator for obtaining records of the sale of merchandise having associated identifying tickets, in-

cluding mechanism arranged to operate on said tickets to obtain a record incorporating data truly corresponding to each of said tickets, and means whereby said record so 0btaincd is rendered inaccessible to the operator.

21. Apparatus controllable by an operator .for obtaining records of the sale of merchandise having associated identifying tickets, including mechanism arranged to operate on said-tickets to obtain substantially uniform sized records, incorporating data truly corresponding to each of said tickets, and means whereby said records so obtained are rendered inaccessible to the operator.

22. Apparatus controllable by an operator for obtaining records of the sale of merchandise having associated identifying tickets, including mechanism arranged to sever the ticketsinto two portions, each of the severed portions carrying original data and means for attaching one of said portions of each ticket to a substantially uniform sized backing that is substantially larger than the severed attached portion to facilitate handling.

23. Apparatus controllable by an operator for obtaining records of the sale of merchandise having associated identifying tickets, in-

eluding mechanism arranged to sever the tickets into two portions, each of the severed portions carrying original data, means for attaching one of said portions of each ticket to a substantially uniform sized backing that is substantially larger than the severed attached portion to facilitate handling, and means whereby said attached portions with their backings are rendered inaccessible to the operator.

24. In apparatus controllable by a salesperson, a cash drawer, means providing a lock for said drawer, means providing a receptacle inaccessible to the person, a mechanism arranged to operate on identifying tickets associated with merchandise, a tape, means to perform an attaching operation between the tape and the severed portion as well as to cut the tape to form a ticket carrying part, and to deposit said carrying part into the receptacle,

and means for opening said drawer'when said ticket carrying part is deposited.

25. In apparatus controllable bya salesperson, a cash drawer. means providing another receptacle inaccessible to the person, mechanism arranged to operate on tickets associated with merchandise to obtain a record for each ticket incorporating data truly cor responding to said tickets. a lock for the drawer, means whereby said record is placed in the receptacle. and means whereby the drawer is unlocked only in response to the operation .of the record taking means.

26. Apparatus contrxjwllable by an operator partments inaccessible to the operator, means for obtaining records of the sale of merchanfor selecting; a compartment, and means actudise having associated identifying tickets, inated when the record is obtained, to deposit eluding" mechanism arranged to operate on the record in the selected compartment.

5 said tickets to obtain a record incorporating In testimony whereof, I. have. hereunto subdata truly corresponding to each of said scribed my name. tickets, means providing a plurality of com- MATTHEW KLEIN. 

